Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 508 › Conversation 508-007

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Urban unemployment and Economic policy

Wednesday, June 2, 1971 · 8:55 AM–9:20 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation508-007 on Tape 508 (tape position 00:13:27–00:15:02)StartWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 8:55 AMEndWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 9:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 508-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum for John D. Ehrlichman regarding the urgent need to address rising urban unemployment. Concerned that unemployment rates exceeding 6% would create severe political repercussions and irreparable economic damage, Nixon directs Ehrlichman to coordinate with George P. Shultz to develop a strategy for the summer months. The discussion focuses on evaluating Pierre Rinfret’s economic forecasts and formulating proactive policy measures to mitigate potential civil and political instability.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 69% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I think it may become necessary for us to consider gas action during the summer months to do a purposeful stash to deal with climate and trade in the major cities.
And second, to keep the climate
If we have substantial increases over the 6%, hanging on through the next five or six months, we will have a massive political problem and also
We may set up public mines so firmly we may not be able to recover from it.
I sobered with Schultz and he gave me a recommendation and a memorandum.

NARA Description

On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 508-007

Date: June 2, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:55 am and 9:20 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to John D. Ehrlichman

     Urban unemployment
          -Pierre Rinfret’s predictions
          -Possible political problems
          -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming meeting with George P. Shultz
          -Ehrlichman’s recommendations

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Also recorded on June 2, 1971

  • 508-001 8:55 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-002 8:55 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-003 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-004 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-005 8:55 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-006 8:55 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-008 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-009 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.

All 42 conversations from June 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 508-007, June 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/508-007 (accessed September 26, 2026).